Top recruits predict College Football Playoff semifinal winners

The eighth installment of the College Football Playoff will officially begin on Friday afternoon.

At 3:30 p.m. EST, the Cincinnati Bearcats will face off against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington (Texas). At 7:30 p.m. EST, No. 2 Michigan will clash against No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl in Miami (Florida).

Given the caliber of these games, high school prospects from across the country will be tuning in later today. That includes participants for Sunday’s Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando (Florida).

On3 caught up with some of the most highly touted recruits in the 2022 cycle to get their predictions for Friday’s CFP matchups.

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Five-star Plus+ recruits share their predictions

Jackson State signee Travis Hunter: “I’ve got Alabama. If Jameson Williams plays, they’re going to win. That’s going to be a close game, though. I got 28-24.”

“[Georgia and Michigan is] going to be a close game, too. Georgia is going to win, probably like 24-17.”

Texas A&M signee Walter Nolen: “Bama is going to win for sure. I don’t know why they’re trying to say they’re the underdogs. They know they are not underdogs. I’m pulling for Cincinnati. I’m not going to lie. I feel like it’ll be a low-scoring game. It’ll be like 28-14, something like that.”

“Michigan has an explosive offense, and they have a fire defensive line,” said Nolen, who had Georgia in his top three back in August. “I got Michigan in a close game. They’re going to win by three. I don’t know the final score.”

Texas A&M signee Evan Stewart: “Bama or Cincy? Bama. I will say 35-14… I’ve got Michigan. I will say a low score. I’ll go 14-3.”

USC signee Domani Jackson: “I’m going to go with Michigan, I think they got it over Georgia. Their run game is crazy. I think Michigan wins by three points.

“Got Bama, of course,” said Jackson, who had Alabama in his top two last month. “I think Bama wins by about three touchdowns… I think Alabama is going to take it all. Alabama has Bryce Young. I played with him, so I can say that and speak that. I’ve always got Bryce’s back.”

Coveted defensive prospects reveal their picks

Five-star DL Shemar Stewart, who has Georgia in his top three: “I like Georgia 28-14. I like 35-21, Alabama. I feel like it will be a better game than it was the first time, but I think Alabama will pull off the win again (over Georgia in the national championship).”

Top-ranked safety Jacoby Matthews, who is planning to officially visit Alabama next month: “Alabama and Cincy, I’m going to go with Bama. I got 35-14. If Michigan plays how they played against Ohio State, I got Michigan. I got 21-7.”

Four-star EDGE Omari Abor: “For the Michigan and Georgia game, that’s going to be a great game. Michigan, they have two great d-ends… I will take Georgia. Score is going to be 24-20.

“No disrespect to Cincinnati, but I feel like Bama is different,” added Abor, who has Alabama as one of six finalists ahead of his decision on Sunday. “I’ll say 31-18.”

SEC signees agree on Alabama winning

Auburn signee Austin Ausberry: “I got it 35-21, Bama. Michigan and Georgia, I got Michigan 28 and Georgia 14. I think Michigan is going to do their thing.”

LSU signee Will Campbell: “Definitely, I’m going to take Bama in that one. I’d say first half, it’ll be a little bit close. Final will probably be like 42-21.

“[Georgia and Michigan] definitely going to be a lot closer game. If Georgia is healthy without COVID [issues], I’m definitely going to take them. I’d say 28-21.”

Florida signee Kamari Wilson: “I got Bama winning by 10. Michigan and Georgia, that’s a hard one. I love Georgia, still… I got Georgia winning.”

Future Buckeyes pick the Wolverines

Five-star Buckeyes signee C.J. Hicks: “I got the Team Up North. Their o-line and d-line is nasty.

“I got Bama by 17.”

Ohio State signee Kenyatta Jackson: “I will say for the Georgia-Michigan game, I’m going with Michigan. I think their o-line is going to dominate up front… I’ll say 24-21, Michigan.

“For the Bama-Cincinatti game, I think it will be a good game. I’d say that Bama pulls it out 35-21.”

More predictions in from four-star recruits

North Carolina signee Travis Shaw: “I got Alabama by two touchdowns. [Georgia and Michigan], I’d probably say it’s going to be a 10-point game. I got Georgia in that one.”

USC signee Zion Branch: “I got Bama. I will go 35-14, Bama. That boy Jameson Williams is crazy. He’s going to eat for sure. I got Georgia because Georgia’s d-line and defense is crazy. I got that score 42-35.”

Texas signee Justice Finkley: “I don’t think Georgia is going to be able to handle those two Michigan ends. I got Michigan. Georgia’s defense is solid, so it’ll be like 7-0.

“I think Cincinnati will come to play; they’re playing with a chip on their shoulders. I got the score 21-14, Alabama.”

Oklahoma signee Jayden Gibson: “I have to take an underdog in one of the games. I’m taking Alabama by 21 over Cincinnati and I’m taking Michigan over Georgia.”

Lone pick for Cincinnati and Michigan to win

Indiana signee Dasan McCullough: “I got Michigan winning by 14 and I got Cincinnati winning by seven.”

On3’s Jeremy Johnson contributed to this report.